Harvester



July 26, 1949; V A. OEHLER E1 m. 77,3

mavssmn Filed April 24, 1944 r j s Sheets- Sheet 1' .COLVIN I PARADIS ATTORNE S I July 26, 1949.

A. W. OEHLER EI'AL I HARVESTER Filed April 24, 1944 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 mvzufims ALVIN w. OEHLER NOLAN 0.- COLVIN ARADISE.

' Filed April 24, 1944 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 J ly'26, A. w. OEHLER EAL ,4

HARVESTER INVENTORS I ATTORNEYS July 26, 1949. v A. w. OEHLER ETAL 2,477,389

V amvns'mn i Filed April 24. 1944 e shuts-sheet s f 'INVENTORS ALVIN w. OEHLER July 26, 1949. A. w. OEHLER ErAL.

, HARVESTER 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed April 24. 1944 INVENTOR. fibvm w. OEHLER Patented July 26, 1949 r HABVESTER Alvin W. Oehler, Nolan D. Colvin, and Louis A.

Paradise, llollne, 111., assignors to Deere & Company, lloliue, 111., a corporation of Illinois Application April 24, 1944, Serial No. 532,496

8 Claims.

The present invention relates generally to harvesters and more particularly to the type of harvester that cuts the standing crop and loads it into a vehicle such as -a men or truck for transportation from the field, and is particularly applicable to crops such as green hay, alfalfa, peas, and the like, which are desired to be processed or stored promptly after they are out.

The principal object of this invention has to do with the provision of a self-propelled harvester which cuts the crop and immediately loads it into a transporting vehicle. and which is simple and inexpensive and is also easily maneuverable and fast in operation.

A further object of the present invention has to do with the provision of a harvester which cuts a single swath directly in its own path and immediately loads it into a wagon or trailer which runs in the same path and thus prevents damage to the standing crop. A common type of harvester is in the form of an implement which is towed by a tractor in offset relation thereto and loads the crop into a trailing vehicle which is offset in the opposite direction and thus both the tractor and the vehicle must run over the standing crop when the field is being opened.

Still another object of the present invention relates to the provision of a harvester which cuts the crop in a swath which extends into the fence corners. The trailing type of implement necessarily makes a curved path at the corner of the field and therefore misses the crop which stands in a small triangular path in each of the corners of the field.

These and other objects and advantages of our invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art after a consideration of the following description, in which reference is bad to the drawings appended hereto, in which Figure '1 is a plan view of a self-propelled or tractor-mounted harvester embodying the principles of the present invention.

Figure 2 is a side elevational view of the em bodiment shown in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a plan view showing a modified form of the invention.v

Figure 4 is a side elevational view of the em bodiment shown in Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a plan view showing another modification of the present invention.

Figure 6 is a side elevatioual view of the embodiment shown in Figure 5.

Referring now to the drawings and more partieularly to Figures 1 and 2, the harvester is indihousing It extending laterally in opposite directions from the frame l2 and mounted on a pair of laterally spaced traction wheels IT. A power plant is carried in a suitable housing l8 on the forward end of the frame i2 and is connected to a drive mechanism within the axle housing It by a suitable power transmitting shaft (not shown) extending longitudinally through an enclosure I9. A tractor of this type is shown and described in detail in application, Serial No. 172,906, filed November 5, 1937, by Maxon, Sklovsky and Nordenson, and issued March 28, 1944, as Patent No. 2,345,351.

At the forward end of the tractor l l is mounted a mower indicated in its entirety by reference numeral 20, comprising a supporting frame 2| including a pair of laterally spaced longitudinally extending frame beams 22, disposed along opposite sides of the tractor, respectively, and swingably attached at their rear ends by depending brackets 23 to a transverse pipe member 24 disposed beneath the tractor body between the frontqand rear wheels l5, l1 thereof. The pipe member 24 is rigidly fixed to a fore and aftextending shaft 25 journaled in a pair of longitudinally spaced front and rear bearing brackets 26, 21, respectively, the latter being rigidly mounted on cross frame members 28, 29 on the tractor frame l2. Thus, the frame 2| is swingable vertically about the transverse axis of the pipe member 24, on which the brackets 23 are journaled, and the frame 2| is also tiltable about the fore and aft extending axis of the shaft 25, thus providing for free floating movement of the mower frame relative to the tractor. A tubular rockshaft 30 is journaled in bearings 3| at the forward end of the two frame beams 22. Directly beneath the rockshaft 30 is disposed at more or less conventional mower cutter bar 32 which extends transversely across the front of the tractor and in the path of forward movement thereof. A transverse bracing member 33 is rigidly connected between the two frame bars 22. The cutter bar 32 is mounted at the lower ends of a pair of laterally spaced generally vertical legs 34, which are secured at their upper ends to the rockshaft 3e, whereby the cutter bar 32 is swingable rearwardly and upwardly about the transverse axis of the rockshaft 30. A spring latch mechanism indicated by reference numeral 35 (Figures 1 and 3), normally braces the rockshaft against swinging movement and reacts against the transverse brace 33 to hold the cutter bar 32 in ground engaging position, but yields when the mower encounters an obstruction in the field. Further details of this mechanism are not considered necessary here, for reference may be had to Patent No. 2,340,488, granted to Paradise and Coultas, February 1, 1944, for a complete description of a mower of this type including these and other details of construction and operation of the mower.

The mower sickle is driven through a pitman 36 (see Figures 1 and 3) connected through a swingable bearing 31 to the sickle and having a crank bearing 38 at its opposite end, which is journaled on a suitable crank mounted on a flywheel 39, which is fixed to a supporting shaft 40 and carried in a journal bearing 4|, which is rigidly mounted on the rockshaft 30. The shaft 40 is connected through a pair of universal joints 42, 43 and a telescoping shaft 44, to a pair of intermeshslng bevei gears disposed within a housing 45 fixed to the side of the engine and having a suitable power connection with the crankshaft of the engine.

A plurality of rearwardly extending rods 46 are attached at their forward ends to the transverse cutter bar 32 and extend rearwardly therefrom, the rear ends of the rods 46 being curved upwardly and inwardly toward the center line of the tractor. The rods 46 are segregated in two groups, one group ahead or each of the front wheels I of the tractor. As the implement advances in the field, the crop cut by the ends of the mower is guided by the curved rear ends of the rods 46 and laid in a windrow between the front wheels of the tractor, whereby the crop is not damaged by the tractor wheels.

At the rear end of the tractor is mounted a pick-up and conveying device indicated generally by reference numeral 50. The pick-up and conveying device is in the form of a crop loader comprising a rigid frame 5| including a pair of laterally spaced, longitudinally extending frame bars 52 mounted at their forward ends on a pair of downwardly and inwardly extending bracket plates 53 secured by bolts 54 to lugs 55 which are rigidly fixed as by welding to the top surfaces of the tractor frame members I3. The frame bars 52 extend rearwardly over the tractor axle housing I6, are inclined slightly downwardly and rearwardly and are mounted on brackets 66 which are bolted to the top of the rear axle housing l6 adjacent the traction wheels II. The forward ends of the bars 52 are interconnected by a transverse frame member 51 and the rear ends of the frame bars 52 are interconnected by a transverse frame member 58. Thus, the rectangular frame 5| is rigidly mounted on the tractor frame and overhangs the tractor as a cantilever frame. An inverted U-shaped channel member 60 extends transversely across the tops of the frame bars 52 and project outwardly beyond the latter at opposite sides thereof. The outer ends of the channel member 60 turn downwardly to provide a pair of supportin legs 6|.

A transverse shaft 62 is journaled at opposite ends thereof. respectively, in the legs 6|. and extends beneath the frame bars 52. A pick-up device 63 is swingably mounted on the shaft 62 and comprises a pair of downwardly and forwardly extending legs 64 interconnected at their lower ends by a shaft 65, which is journaled in the legs 64 and carries a roller 66. A second roller 61 is fixed to the shaft 62 and rotates therewith. A plurality of flexible endless pick-up belts 66 are trained over the two rollers 66, 61 and are provided with rows of spring teeth or fingers 69 attached to the belts 63. The lower ends of the legs 64 are provided with ground engaging shoes or runners I0, which gauge the forward roller 66 so that the ends of the fingers 69 brush over the ground as the upper flights of the belts 60 move upwardly and rearwardly around the lower roller 66. The belts are driven by the upper roller 61, which receives power through a power transmitting chain ll trained over a sprocket 12 on the shaft 62 and connected to the latter through a suitable conventional slip clutch indicated by reference numeral 13. The chain II is also trained over a sprocket l4 fixed to a power shaft I5 which is journaled in a bearing l6 mounted near the outer end of the U-shaped channel member 60 and extending inwardly toward the 7 center line of the implement. The inner end of the shaft I5 is journaled in a gear housing I1 and is connected within the housing through a pair of intermeshing bevel gears I8 to a longitudinally extending power shaft I9, which is connected througth a pair of universal joints to a shaft 8|, which is journaled in a pair of longitudinally spaced bearings 82. The bearings 82 are fixed to a pair of transversely extending longitudinally spaced frame members 83, 84. The member 83 is fixed to the frame bars 52 at opposite ends, while the other transverse member 04 is fixed to a pair 'of forwardly extending supports 85 which are rigidly mounted on the rear ends of the tractor frame members l3, which project rearwardly beyond the tractor axle housing l6. A sprocket 86 is mounted on the forward end of the shaft 8| and is connected through a power chain 81 to a sprocket B8 mounted on the power take-off shaft 69 of the tractor.

A hand lever 95 is pivotally mounted by means of a transversely extending bolt 96 on the right hand side of the frame 5| and'is connected to a rearwardly extending crank arm 91, which in turn is connected through a vertical link to the leg or frame member 64 of the pick-up device. The lever is secured in adjusted position by suitable latch mechanism of any conventional type (not shown) which engages a notched sector 99 fixed to the frame member 52. Thus, by means of the lever 95, the pick-up device 63 can be swung about the transverse axis of the shaft 62 to adjust the forward end of the pick-up device relative to the ground. The hand lever 95 is located conveniently to the operator's seat I00 so that it may be adjusted during operation in the field.

It will be noted that the pick-up device 63 extends transversely across the path of the tractor behind the latter, and is substantially coextensive with the cutter bar 02. By means of the pickup fingers 69, the windrowed crop is picked up from the ground and carried upwardly and rearwardly and discharged over the rear end of the pick-up device, from which it is received by a conveyor indicated by reference numeral I05.

The conveyor I05 comprises a pair of laterally spaced longitudinally extending frame members I06, which are mounted on brackets I01 rigidly fixed to the rear ends of the frame members 52,

I asmaac bracket plates I 06. The bracketplates I06 are f fixed to the lower ends of the legs 6I and extend, rearwardly therefrom. The shaft I06 is extended transversely, to a pair of depending bracket plates I23 at opposite ends of a transverse supporting member I29. The transverse member I26 extends across the rear of the tractor and is mounted on a pair of forwardly extending arms 130, which are in turn mounted at opposite ends,

laterally and is provided with a drive sprocket II3 over which the chain H is trained to transmit power'thereto. A roller (not shown) is mounted on the shaft I08'between the side members I06 of the conveyor I05 and drives a conveyor belt II2, of the flexible endlesstype. At the rear end of the conveyor frame members I06 is journaled a shaft II3 on which is fixed a roller. II4 over which the conveyor belt II 2 is trained. A plu-' rality of transversely disposed longitudinally spaced slats II5 are fixed to the conveyor belt H2 and are adapted to engage the crop that is I discharged from the pick-updevice 63 to the conveyor belt I I2, for moving the crop to a, point of discharge at the-rear roller II4.-

The conveyor I05 is inclined upwardly and rearwardly' from apoint beneath the discharge end 7 of the pick-up device 63, directly rearwardly of the tractor and upwardly over the rear transverse frame member 58 to an elevated position above a trailing vehicle II6, such as a wagon or trailer carried on suitable supporting wheels H1 and drawn by means of a draft tongue I I8 which is pivotally connected by means of a draft pin I I5 to a connecting plate I20 mounted on the rear transverse frame member 58.

Thus, it will be evident that the harvester is entirely self-contained and self-propelled and the harvester and its trailing vehicle II6 all move in alignment in the path cut by the mower at the front of the implement.

The pick-up device 63 is preferably, although not necessarily, of the type shown and described in detail in Patent No. 2,253,797, granted August 26, 1941, to Melroe. The pick-up device is counterbalanced by means of a compression spring I 2I which encircles a bolt I22 extending between the frame of the runner shoe 1c and the adjacent leg 6| of the channel-shaped frame member 60. Preferably, there are two counterbalancing springs I2I, one at each end of the pick-up device 63, which are adapted to facilitate raising and lowering the forward end of the latter by means of a hand lever 95.

respectively, of a transverse beam I fixed to Y the rear ends of the tractor frame members I3.

The rear ends of the crop loader frame members I26 converge rearwardly and incline slightly upwardly and are interconnected by a rear transverse frame member I I32. A pair of upper and lower bracket plates I33 are fixed to the rear transverse member I32, in a substantially central position, and supported between the bracket plates I33 is a spindle bearing I34, within which Referring now more particularly to Figures 3 and 4, the mower 20 in this embodiment is identical with the mower in the embodiment of Figures 1 and 2 and therefore a description thereof need not be repeated. The same reference numerals are used in the parts of the mower in this embodiment. The details of the tractor II are also similar to those shown in the embodiment of Figures 1 and zandthereforesimilar reference numerals will be found on the corresponding parts of thisembodiment.

In the embodiment of Figures 3' and 4, the pick-up and conveying device is indicatedgenerally by reference numeral I25 and instead of being rigidly mounted on the tractor frame I2, the device is Semi-mounted, that is, it is swingably mounted at its forward end on the tractor and is carried at its rear end by an independent ground support, as will be made clear in the following disclosure. The frame of the pick-up and conveying device, in other words, the crop loader, comprises a pair of laterally, spaced longitudinally extendingframe bars I26, pivotally connected attheir is pivotally mounted the spindle I35 of a caster wheel fork I36. A caster wheel I31 is journaled between the arms of the form I36.

The pick-up device I40 is preferably of the belt type as in the previous embodiment, and comprises a transverse shaft I4I journaled in the two longitudinal frame members I26, and supporting a pair of forwardly and downwardly inclined frames I 42, which carry a roller shaft I43 between their forward ends. A pair of rollers I44, I45 are mounted on the shafts I4I, I43, re-

spectively, and a plurality of endless flexible belts 6 are trained over the rollers I44, I45 town in side-by-side relationship. The belts I46 are provided with rows of spring teeth or fingers I41 and are adapted to engage the ground to take the windrowed crop therefrom. A ground engaging shoe I40 is provided for preventing the spring fingers from digging into the ground, and a counterbalancing compression spring I49 is provided as described above. The pick-up device is' raised and lowered by means of a hand lever I55, mounted on a rockshaft I56, which is journaled on top of the transverse beam I29, the rocksha-ft being provided with a rearwardly extending crank arm I51, which is connected to one end of a link I56, the other end of which is connected to the side member I42. The hand lever I55 is secured in adjusted position by means of a notched sector I59 mounted on the transverse beam I29.

As in theembodiment of Figures 1 and 2, the pick-up-device I40 is substantially coextensive with the cutter bar 32 and picks up the windrowed crop and discharges it rearwardly upon the lower end of an upwardly and rearwardly inclined conveyor I65. The conveyor I65 is rigidly mounted on a bracket I66 on the rear transverse frame member I32 of the caster wheel mounted frame. The conveyor I65 is somewhat narrower than the pick-up device I40, but a pair of laterally inclined chutes I61 convey the harvested cropfrom the ends of the pick-up device I40 tothe conveyor. of the conveyor are rigidly mounted on the brackets I66 and are also journaled at their forward and lower ends on a transverse shaft I69, the latter being journaled in a pair of downwardly extending legs I10 fixed to the frame members I26. The flexible endless conveyor belt I1I is trained over a roller I14 mounted on the shaft I66 and also over a roller I12 mounted on a transverse shaft I13 at the upper end of the conveyor frame I66.-

Power is supplied to the crop loader I25 from the tractor power take-off shaft I15 through a chain drive I16 to a shaft I11 journaled in abearing I16 mounted on the transverse member I3l. The shaft I11 is coupled to a pair of intermeshing beveled gears I16 within a gear housing I60 The side frame members I68 mounted on the transverse supporting member I28. A transverse power shaft I8I is iournaled in the gear housing I85 and reeeives power from the bevel gears I18. The outer end of the shaft III is journaled in a bearing I82 at the outer end of the frame member I28 and a sprocket I83 is fixed to the outer end of the shaft i8ll. A

drive chain I84 interconnects the sprocket I83 with a driven-sprocket I85 connected'through a slip clutch I85 to the upper-roller shaft I4! of the pick-up device I48. .A spring biased belt tightening idler I81 is mounted on an arm I88, which is swingably mounted on the frame member I25 and takes up the slack in the chain I84 as the frame members 128 swing vertically about the transverse axis of the pivot members I21. Another drive chain I88 connects a pair of sprockets on the shaft I and the shaft I58 to drive the conveyor belt I".

In this embodiment of our invention, it will be noted that part of the weight of the crop loader I25 is carried on the caster wheel I31, and only a portion of the weight is carried on the rear end of the tractor through the pivot members I21. In this embodiment as well as'in the foregoing embodiment, the frame of the loader is laterally rigid with respect to the tractor frame and therefore swings with the tractor as the latter turns a corner. During operation, the pick-up device gathers the windrow and deposits it upon the conveyor belt I", which moves the crop upwardly and rearwardly and discharges it over the upper conveyor roller I12 into the wagon or trailer H8. The latter is connected through the draft member H8 which is pivotally connected by the pivot pin H8 to a rearward extension I88 of the lower caster 'wheel bracket plate I33.

Referring now more particularly to Figures and 6, the tractor I I is identical with the tractors in the two embodiments described hereinbefore, with the exception that the operators seat I85 is supported on a framework I86 mounted in offset position at one side of the tractor. framework I86 comprises a pair of fore and aft spaced transversely disposed structural channel members I81 fixed beneath the tractor frame members I3 and extending laterally from the left side of the tractor. The outer ends of the members I81 are interconnected by a pair of fore and aft extending laterally spaced beams I88, on which the seat I85 is mounted and between which members a foot rest bar I88 is supported. A steering column 288 is provided in front of the operator's seat I85 and a suitable steering wheel 28| is connected through linkage 282, extending alongside the front transverse member I81, for operating the steering mechanism of the tractor. A clutch pedal 283 is mounted on a rockshaft 284 which extends laterally inwardly along the beam I81 and is connected by suitable linkage (not shown) with the clutch disconnecting mechanism of the tractor.

In this embodiment, the mower cutter bar 32 v is mounted ahead of the tractor as before, but

The

the push bars 22' are appreciably longer than the push bars 22 in the other two embodiments,

thereby placing the mower cutter bar at a greater distan-"e ahead of the tractor.

The mower sickle is driven through a flywheel 2l8 Journaled on the end of the rockshaft 38 and receives power through a power transmitting belt 2 which is trained over a drive pulley 2I2 mounted on a shaft 2 I 3, the latter being journaled in a bracket 2" rigidly mounted on the left hand push her 22' near the rear end thereof.

The shaft 2|.3 isconnected through a universal joint 2I5 to a'telescoping shaft 2", whichis' connectedlthr'ough another universal loint2l1 to the belt pulley shaft 2I3 of the tractor. The

flywheel 218 is provided with a crank 2l8 on which the pitman 228 is journaled. A more complete description of this mower is given in the patent mentioned hereinabove.

In this embodiment, however, the rockshaft 38 is secured rigidly to the push bars 22' by bolts from this mower because of the pick-up device 238, which is located immediately behind the mower cutter bar.

The pick-up device 238 comprises a pair of side frame members 23! supported on curved shoes or skids 232 at their forward ends and inclined upwardly andrearwardly therefrom, the upper ends of the frame members 23l being swingabiy mounted on a transverse shaft 233 disposed above the tractor engine I8 and journaled on a superstructure including vertical frame members 234 extending upwardly and diverging outwardly from the sides of the tractor frame I2. Bracing members 235 are inclined downwardly and rearwardly and converge inwardly from the upper portions of the supporting members 234 and are fixed at their lower ends to a pair of supporting plates or brackets 238 rigidly fixed to the tractor frame members l3, respectively. The forward ends of the conveyor side, members 23l are interconnected by a transverse frame member 231 connected between the runners 232 at opposite sides of the pick-up device. A shaft 238 is disposed transversely at tine forward end of the pick-up device and journaled at opposite ends thereof, respectively, in the two side members 23i. A roller 238 is mounted on the shaft 238 at the forward ing the crop from the rear end of the pick-up device onto a belt type conveyor, indicated b reference numeral 245.

The conveyor 245 comprises a pair of laterally spaced longitudinally extending frame members 246 supported at their forward ends on the supporting members 234 atthe frontpf the tractor. A second pair of vertical frame members 241 are supported on the transverse frame'member I81, which is fixed to a pair of rearwardly extending members 248 serving as extensions of the tractor frame members I3. A pair of inclined braces 248 are fixed at their forward ends to the bracket plates 238 and extend upwardly and rearwardly and diverge outwardly and are secured at their rear ends to the side members 248. The intermediate portions of the bracing members 248 are connected to the supports 241 for bracing the latter. At the forward end of the conveyor 245, a shaft 258 is disposed transversely between and journaled' at opposite ends, respectively, in the supports234. 'Theshaft 258 carries the front i a shaft 282, which is iournaled in the frame.

embers 234 beneaththe shaft 250. The shaft 32 is also provided with a sprocket 263 rigidly red thereto, which drives a sprocket 284 on the Lek-up drive shaft 233, through adrlve chain i5. Another drive chain 288 connects a pair of arockets on the shafts 233 and 250, for driving the anveyor belt 254.

Thus it is evident that in this embodiment" of 1r invention, the pick-up device 230 is directly ehind and coextensive with the cutter bar 32,

wardly and adapted to discharge into a vehicle behind the tractor, and draft means connected to the rear ends ofsaid frame bars for towing the vehicle.

3. For use with a tractor having a longitudinal body supported on front wheels and on a wheeled, transverse rear axle. structure and including a rearwardly located operatorfs station and a rearwardly power take-off shaft: a crop pickup and-loaded attachment comprising a frame adapted for longitudinal disposition behind the tractor and including a pair of generally longitudinal bars having forward end portions spaced transversely apart to straddle the operators station and to extend to a portion of the tractor body ahead of the rear axle structure, said bars extending rearwardly past the rear axle structure nd the cutter bar 32 is swingable with the push ars 22' about the axis of the transverse shaft 24, him the pick-up device 230 isswlngable about 1e transverse axis of its supporting shaft 233. iasmuch as the pick-up device-is slightly wider man the conveyor belt 254, the crop material disharged from the pick-up device 230 is guided the belt 254 by means of a pair of sheet metal uiding walls 268. As in the other embodiments, 1e conveyor belt 254 discharges the crop into me trailer or wagon I 15, which follows the tractor nd is drawn by means of the draft tongue 8, 'hich is pivotally connected by means of the raft pin H9 to the drawbar 210 of the tractor.

We claim:

1. A crop loader attachment for a tractor comrising in combination a frame comprising a pair [laterally spaced, longitudinally exte'nding frame ars, means for pivotally mounting the forward and projecting at therear of. the tractor to provide a rear end portion'of the frame; first means on the forward end portions of the bars providing for connection thereof to the tractor body ahead of the tractor rear axle structure; second means on the bars rearwardly of the first means for supporting the bars on the tractor rear axle structure; a crop'pick-up device disposed below the frame and rearwardly of the second means and including a drivable part; means connecting the pick-up device to the frame, including provision for vertical adjustment of said device relative to the frame; drive means carried on the frame and including a first drive element connected to the drivable part of the device, and a second drive element extending forwardly and having provision for releasable connection to the tractor powertake-off shaft; means for adjusting the pick-up device vertically, including a control member movably carried by one of the bars at a portion thereof adjacent to the aforesaid ad of said frame on the rear end of a tractor for ertical swinging movement about a transverse xis, ground engaging supporting means for the ear end of said frame, a transverse shaft carried W said bars by means providing for rotation of aid shaft, a pick-up device swingably mounted in said shaft and inclined downwardly and forvardly therefrom and including a rotary member mounted on said shaft to rotate therewith, a conrol lever swingably supported on said frame and :onnected to said pick-up device for adjusting he height thereof, and power transmitting means :onnected to said shaft for rotating the latter by lower from the tractor engine.

2. A crop loader attachment for a tractor comirisingjn combination, a frame comprising a 511 of laterally spaced, longitudinally extending :rame bars, means for pivotally mounting the forward end of said frame on the rear end of a trac- 501 for vertical swinging movement about a trans- !erse axis, ground engaging supporting means for zhe rear end of said. frame, a transverse shaft 'zarried by said bars by means providing for rota- ;ion of said shaft, a pick-up device swingably mounted on said shaft and inclined downwardly ind forwardly therefrom and including a rotary member mounted on said shaft to rotate therewith, a control lever swingably supported onsaid frame and connected to said pick-up device for adjusting the height thereof, power transmitting means connected to said shaft for rotating the latter by power from the tractor engine, a conveyor rigidly supported between said bars and extending from a position beneath the discharge end of said pick-up device upwardly and rearcharacterized in that: the rear end portion of the t second means so as to be convenient to the operators station, and a control connection between said member and said device; and a crop loader carried by the frame and inclining upwardly and rearwardly from a receiving end behind and proximate to the pick-up device to a discharge end hehind and at a level above the rear end portion of the frame.

4. The invention defined in claim 3, further frame includes means for hitching thereto a trailing vehicle to receive crops discharged by the crop loader.

5. For use with a tractor having a longitudinal body supported on front wheels and on a wheeled,

transverse rear axle structure and including a rearwardly located operator's station and a rearwardly disposed power take-oil shaft: a crop pick-up and loader attachment comprising a frame adapted for longitudinal disposition behind the tractor and including a pair of generally longitudinal bars having forward end portions spaced transversely apart to straddle the operator's station and to extend to a portion of the tractor body ahead of the rear axle structure, said bars extending rearwardly past the rear axle structure and projecting at the rear of the tractor to provide a rear end portion of the frame; first means on the forward end portions of the bars providing for connection thereof to the tractor body ahead of the tractor rear axle structure;

second means on the bars rearwardly of the first means for supporting the bars on the tractor rear axle structure; a crop pick-up device disposed below the frame and rearwardly of the second means and including a drivable part; means connecting the pick-up device to the frame; drive amuse means carried on the frame and including a first drive element connected to the drivable part of the device, and a second drive element extending forwardly and having provision for releasable connection to the tractor power take-off shaft; and a crop loader carried by the frame and inclining upwardly and rearwardly from a receiving end behind and proximate to the pick-up device to a discharge end behind and at a level above the rear end portion of the frame.

6. The invention defined in claim 5,, further characterized in that: the means for supporting the pick-up device provides in addition a support for the receiving end of the loader; the loader includes a drivable part; and said drive means includes provision for driving the drivable part of the loader.

7. For use with a tractor having a longitudinal body supported on front wheels and on a wheeled,

transverse rear axle structure and including a rearwardly located operators station and a rear-' wardly disposed power take-off shaft: a crop pick-up and loader attachment comprising a frame adapted for longitudinal disposition behind the tractor and including a pair of generally longitudinal bars having forward portions spaced transversely apart and provided with connecting means for connection thereof to laterally spaced portions of the tractor body in proximity to the tractor operators station, said bars projecting rearwardly from said forward portions and having interconnected rear end portions establishing a rear supporting part on the frame; a pickup device disposed below and rearwardly of the forward portions of the bars and forwardly of the rear supporting part of the frame, and having a drivable part; means supporting the pick-up device on the frame, including provision for vertical adjustment of the device relative to the frame; means for adjusting said device vertically,

including a control member movably carried by the forward portion of one bar so as to be convenient to the tractor operator's station, and a control connection between said member and said device; a crop loader inclining upwardly from a receiving end below the frame and adjacent to the pick-up device to a discharge end rearwardly of and at a level above the rear supporting part of the frame, said loader having a drivable part; means supporting the crop leader on the frame at the forward portions of the bars; means supporting the crop loader also on the rear supporting part of the frame so that the loader is a part of the frame and is independent of the tractor; and drive means on the frame including driving connections to the drivable part of the loader and the drivable part of the pick-up device, and further including a forwardly extending drive element having provision for releasable connection to the tractor power take-off shaft.

8. For use with a tractor having a longitudinal body supported on front wheels and on a wheeled, transverse rear axle structure and including a rearwardly located operator's station and a reari2 wardly disposed power take-of! shaft: a crop pickup and loader attachment comprising a frame adapted for longitudinal disposition behind the tractor and including a pair of generally longitudinal bars having forward portions spaced transversely apart and provided withpivotal connecting means for connection of the frame to a rear part of the tractor body on a transverse pivot axis, said bars projecting rearwardly from said forward portions and adapted to swing vertically about said pivot axis and further having interconnected rear end portions establishing a rear supporting part on the frame; ground-engaging means connected to said rear supporting part for sustaining said part of the frame; a pick-up device disposed below and rearwardly of the forward portions of the bars and forwardly of the rear supporting part of the frame, and having a drivable part; means supporting the pick-up device on the frame, including provision for vertical adjustment of the device relative to the frame means for adjusting said device vertically, including a control member movably carried by a forward portion of the frame so as to be independent of the tractor yet convenient to the operators station, and a control connection between said member and said device; a crop loader inclining upwardly from a receiving end below the frame and adjacent to the pick-up device to a discharge end rearwardly of and ate level above the rear supporting part of the frame, said loader having a drivable part; means supporting the crop loader on the frame at the forward portions of the bars; means supporting the crop loader also on the rear supporting part of the frame so that the loader is a part of the frame and is independent of the tractor; and drive means on the frame including driving connections to the drivable part of the loader and the drivable part of the pick-up device, and further including a forwardly extending drive element having provision for releasable connection to the tractor power take-off shaft.

ALVIN W. OEHLER. NOLAN D. COLVIN. LOUIS A. PARADISE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Stoetzl et a]. May 23, 1944 

